How To Create A Mixed Media Cactus In Bloom

After I rescued the first spread in my new sketchbook with a blooming cactus mixed media sketch, I just had to create another, as who can resist? I did intend to keep it loose and quick, which it was, more or less, but the tiny shifts in color and little details are what make the piece, so try not to overwork a sketchbook page, but do enough that it makes you happy! And don’t worry that you are breaking any rules by combining drawing and painting, this is a sketchbook, and even if it weren’t wonderful art is your goal, not masterpieces that can sit in the Metropolitain, right?

Mixed Media Cactus Materials

• himi gouche in white, light green, dark green, sky blue and cobalt blue, lemon yellow

• stabilo woodies in dark green and light green

• luminence pencil in brown

• neocolor 2 aquarelle in white, peach and dark green

• uniball air micro pen, black

How To Create A Mixed Media Cactus In Bloom

1. Make a border in sketchbook with blue tape
2. Loosely draw outline of cactus and blooms with a pencil
3. Add color with gouche, making stripes of green on the cactus body
4. After paint is dry, draw details of flower and buds and row of spikes (see photo above)
5. Loosely fill in with layers of paint and a variety of colors using other materials
6. Add details with uniball AIR, and then tone them down a bit with white and peach neocolor2
7. Add some darker blue just above the cactus, add some lighter blue for clouds, and smudge it a bit.
8. Leave it alone and do more!

Happy sketchbook creating, it truly is a wonderful way to hone your skills!